Black powder cartridges

[StingrayG4]

I asked this question in another thread, but I think it may have been overlooked because I dug up an older thread and asked it there. Are Black powder cartridges available anywhere? Would I have to get a reloader to make some for me? I have a lemon squeezer that I'm thinking of having checked over by a gunsmith to see if it's safe to fire, but don't want to go to the trouble if I can't get any ammo for it. This is probably obvious, but I'm going to say it anyway, I'm not considering taking this gun out to shoot it daily, just a once in a while special occasion thing.

The gun I have is chambered for .38 S&W, by the way.

-S

 

[mxbob]

Modern factory ammo is loaded to be able to shoot in the old revolvers IF they are in good shape. Find a gunsmith that knows the old guns and take his recommendation.
Bob Ray

 

[opoefc]

s, As Bob says above, you can use modern .38S&W ammo. in any black powder gun that is in good condition, especially the Cowboy loads made for the SASS shooting events that use these older S&W .38DAs and safety hammerless guns. Ed.

 

[StingrayG4]

Good to know. I'll have to see if I can find a local S&W doctor.

-S

 

[Missionary]

Good afternoon
Black powder is not hard to load...
If you want some help PM me.

 

[DWalt]

If you go for handloading the .38 S&W, I would recommend using Pyrodex instead of black powder. You still get a lot of smoke, but it doesn't crud up the revolver's works nearly as badly as black powder does. Light smokeless loads are best. I have found that using .356-.357" diameter lead bullets works just fine. I've pulled lead bullets out of numerous ancient black powder factory cartridges, and have found by measurement that they are all about that size, not the .360" you often see specified as the factory diameter.